Chapter 31: Strange
Moments later, Timothy clung to Bella’s leg at the doorway, his little fingers wrapping around her skirt with surprising strength. His wide gray eyes shimmered with that familiar mix of innocence and reluctance that always made leaving him the hardest part of her mornings.
"Do you have to go, Mommy?" he asked, his lower lip jutting out.
Bella crouched down to his level, brushing a thumb over his cheek. "Yes, baby. I have to go to work."
He pouted, tilting his head. "But you just got back last night. I want to stay with you."
Bella’s chest tightened as she heard her son’s words, his gray eyes reminding her who else owns those pair of eyes. The sting of truth in his words was sharp, because he was right. She had been away most of the evening, and had barely had any time with him this morning because of her discussion with Chloe and Rachel.
She sighed and then smoothed his hair gently. "I’ll always come back, baby. Always. And when I do, we’ll read your new storybook together. Deal? I’m offering you this deal so you can stay with here with Rachel."
Timothy’s pout faltered, and his little eyes brightened with excitement. "Is it the one with the dragon?"
Bella smiled and nodded. "Yes, the dragon."
Timothy leaned forward and kissed her cheek, the warmth of his small lips enough to undo all her defenses. "Okay, deal," he whispered, then finally let go of her leg and bounded back toward Rachel, who stood in the hallway watching them with folded arms and a soft expression.
Rachel mouthed a quiet go on, we’ll be fine as she reached down to catch Timothy in her arms. Bella gave a small nod, grabbed her bag, and followed Chloe out the door.
The car ride started in silence. Bella sat in the passenger seat, her fingers drumming idly against her thigh, her thoughts noisier than the hum of the engine.
After a few minutes, Chloe shot her a sideways glance, her eyes lingering before turning back to the road. "What are you thinking about?" she asked lightly, though there was a knowing edge to her tone.
Bella exhaled slowly, watching the blur of passing buildings through the window. "It’s nothing. It’s just that I’m wondering how I’m supposed to face Jake now that Raymond has told me about their family stuff. I don’t know if I hate him more now."
Her voice grew softer, heavier. "And then there’s Raymond."
Chloe frowned. "What about him?"
Bella shifted, her hands knotting in her lap. "As much as I feel bad for him — losing everything overnight, having to watch his brother take over — I know I can’t... date him. I shouldn’t even let him think that way. But somehow, I’m encouraging him just by being there when he calls, by listening. Instead of staying away. I said I wouldn’t get too close with anyone especially Raymond and Jake but somehow, I keep finding myself drawn in."
Chloe drummed her fingers lightly on the steering wheel, considering. "I totally understand but then I think being friends with him isn’t bad, Bella. He’s hurting. Maybe you’re one of the few people he feels safe with right now. If you keep your boundaries clear, it doesn’t have to be more than that. And if he starts to misunderstand..." She shrugged. "You can always clear the air."
Bella sighed, leaning her head back against the seat. "I wish it were that simple. I can’t help feeling like I’m walking on glass, like at any moment I’ll slip and make things worse. I just—" She paused, her voice cracking slightly. "I can’t wait to get a job somewhere else. Somewhere far from Jake, far from this family drama. I just want to be free of the shadows of my past."
Chloe’s lips pressed into a thin line, her knuckles tightening on the steering wheel. She didn’t respond, but her silence spoke volumes. She understood just how heavy Bella’s past was.
Silence settled between Bella and Chloe. The only sound in the car was the steady hum of the engine and the occasional whoosh of other vehicles passing by. Bella stared at the dashboard clock, her mind a tangle of faces, regrets, and unanswered questions.
After some time, Chloe broke the silence again since there’s something else she needed to know. "So... about Rachel." Her tone was gentler now, almost cautious. "Were you two able to talk?"
Bella turned her head, studying Chloe for a moment. "Yes," she said finally. "She told me about Mr. Camden. About the job offer."
Chloe gave a small nod, her eyes fixed on the road. "So what did you say? I think she’s tired of seeing you working hard for her and Timothy when she can work and lessen some of your burdens."
Bella hesitated, then sighed and asked, "What do you think about him? Mr. Camden, I mean. Is he a nice person?"
Chloe’s lips curved slightly, not quite a smile but close. "He was a good boss. Demanding, sure, but fair. If he hadn’t been kind at heart, I wouldn’t have kept in touch after the Stones took over. He always treated me with respect." She glanced briefly at Bella. "He’ll do the same for Rachel. That I’m sure of."
Bella chewed on her bottom lip, her mind racing. The idea of Rachel working for a sick, aging man tugged at her instincts — part of her wanted to shield her sister from it, from the stress, from the responsibility. But another part whispered that maybe this was the chance Rachel needed to finally step into her own life.
"I’ll think about it," Bella said softly, almost to herself. "And decide later."
Chloe didn’t push, didn’t argue. She only nodded once, a silent acknowledgment that the decision wasn’t hers to make.
The rest of the drive stretched out in quiet contemplation. Bella’s gaze drifted back to the passing streets, but her mind lingered on Rachel’s determined face, on Timothy’s bright eyes, on Raymond’s broken voice, and on Jake’s looming shadow. It was as though her life had fractured into a dozen directions, each demanding something of her, each pulling her heart in a different way.
In no time, they arrived and took the elevator to their offices.
The hum of the elevator was the only sound filling the space as Bella adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder. The familiar mirrored walls reflected back the carefully composed mask she wore — hair neatly tied back, blouse crisp, expression neutral. But beneath it, her chest was tight, her thoughts spiraling.
She was going to see Jake again.
The elevator dinged, the doors sliding open to reveal the polished floor of the executive wing. Bella stepped out, her heels clicking softly against the tiles. Heads turned as she passed — some curious, some indifferent — but she kept her gaze fixed forward, straight to the breakroom where she prepared Jake’s coffee as she had done for days.
Her hands moved on autopilot: black, no sugar, two creams. The routine steadied her nerves, even as her thoughts churned. She lifted the steaming cup carefully, squared her shoulders, and walked down the hall to his office.
The glass door stood ajar. Inside, Jake sat behind his desk, eyes locked on the screen of his laptop. Papers were spread in meticulous stacks across the polished surface, a sharp contrast to the chaos that had consumed him at dinner when everything changed hands.
Bella paused at the threshold, her breath catching. For a moment, she just watched him. He looked... different. Not just powerful, though the tailored suit and commanding posture screamed authority. He felt distant and guarded.
By now, he would have raised his head to look at her with mischief.
Glad he wasn’t doing that, she stepped inside, clearing her throat gently. "Your coffee," she said, expecting him to look up now.
Jake didn’t look up. His hand extended automatically, fingers brushing the handle as he pulled the cup toward him, his eyes never leaving the screen. "Thank you," he said flatly, his tone clipped, almost distracted.
That was it? No glance. No smirk. No biting remark. Bella thought.
Bella blinked, caught off guard by the indifference. Since she started working here and discovered he was her boss, she had always braced herself for Jake’s scrutiny, his sharp comments, his knack for cutting her down with a single look.
Now, with none of it directed her way, she should have felt... relieved.
Instead, unease crawled under her skin. What was going on?
Her grip tightened around the empty tray as she lingered by the desk, half-expecting him to finally glance up, to say something. But Jake only flipped to the next page of a document, brow furrowed in concentration, his jaw tight. He looked like a man consumed by a fire no one else could see.
"Do you need something else?" Jake asked, his eyes still locked on the screen before him.
"No.... sir. I should go drop this and come read your schedule," Bella said,v trying not to show her surprise.
So he could be this professional?
Is he fine? She wondered. Or is he just shutting me out?
She left and returned with her journal to read out his schedule and just like before, other than nods of acknowledgement, he didn’t raise his head.
Bella’s throat felt dry when he still didn’t try anything funny with her after she was done. She shifted her weight, then forced herself to step back, her heels clicking faintly against the floor. "I’ll... be outside if you need anything," she murmured, more to fill the silence than because she expected a reply.
Jake gave a curt nod, still not looking at her.
Bella closed the door softly behind her, her heart hammering. Relief should have washed over her — no cruel remarks, no him trying to seduce or flirt with her, no acknowledgment of her at all. Wasn’t that what she wanted?
And yet, as she returned to her desk, unease gnawed at her. The indifference unsettled her more than him teasing her ever had.
What is going on inside Jake Stones’ head?